Super Bowl 2013: Anti-gay statement stirs up a firestorm for 49ers

NEW ORLEANS -- A 49ers player's disparaging remarks about homosexuality rekindled the long-running debate about intolerance in professional sports Wednesday, and in the process created a Super Bowl-size distraction for the team.

Asked in a Tuesday media-day interview if the 49ers have any homosexual players, second-year cornerback Chris Culliver responded: "No. Ain't got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff." When asked if a good player might be welcomed anyhow, he said: "Nah. Can't be ... in the locker room, man. Nah."

Culliver then suggested gay athletes keep their sexuality private until 10 years after they retire.

The remarks -- contained in a taped, one-minute podcast with bawdy radio personality Artie Lange -- exploded across social media and traditional media outlets Wednesday, drawing widespread condemnation. By the end of the day, the team had apologized and Culliver himself said the quotes did not reflect what's "in my heart." But many commentators said the attitude that seemed to underlie the remarks is all too common in sports, even in liberal San Francisco.

No active NFL player has come out as gay, although several have after retirement.

"It's not a totally uncommon opinion in professional sports in general and the NFL in particular," said Patrick Burke, president of the You Can Play Project, which is devoted to respect for all athletes without regard to sexual orientation. "It's ignorance in the purest sense of the word. It's not stupidity. Athletes live in a very insular world."

Advertisement

Culliver's diatribe had particular resonance in the middle of Super Bowl week because it was not the first time the issue of gay athletes in the locker room had been a topic of conversation.

That's because former 49ers (2003-07), Raiders (2008) and Stanford offensive lineman Kwame Harris had appeared in San Mateo County court on Monday regarding felony domestic charges in the alleged beating of an ex-boyfriend last August at a Menlo Park restaurant.

The sexuality of Harris, 30, a former first-round draft pick, was never divulged during his playing career. He reacted strongly to Culliver's words in a statement he issued to NBC Bay Area.

"It's surprising that in 2013 Chris Culliver would use his 15 minutes to spread vitriol and hate," Harris said in the statement. "I recognize that these are comments that he may come to regret and that he may come to see that gay people are not so different than straight people."

The team responded to the burgeoning firestorm with a statement Wednesday afternoon, condemning Culliver's remarks.

"The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris," the statement read. "There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community."

Culliver later issued his own statement, apologizing for the derogatory comments, saying they don't reflect how he feels.

"It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly," said Culliver, who has played an instrumental role in the 49ers' defensive success the past two seasons, serving as their No. 3 cornerback and a core special-teams player.

"Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart."

But it was clear at least some damage had been done.

"Oh no, not another fool," said former 49ers running back Dave Kopay, who disclosed after leaving the NFL in a 1975 book that he was gay. "What planet is he from? Especially in today's expanding world. I bet every other player in the organization is just embarrassed. This is a team that has worked so hard to reach out to the gay community. This is a class organization and it shouldn't have to deal with such stupidity."

Indeed, there were many statements of tolerance from Culliver's teammates at Wednesday morning's media session.

"I think sports has helped break down a lot of barriers, race included," quarterback Alex Smith said. "We've got guys from all over the country, all over the world in some cases, all different types of religions, backgrounds, makeups -- that's the special thing about a team. A guy who can do his job and take it seriously gets appreciated ... a guy that's accountable. I don't know why this would be any different."

Added running back Frank Gore: "Look, if you're gay, I don't have a problem with it."

This is not the first time that the 49ers have been confronted with the issue of homosexuality.

Lindsy McLean, a long-time 49ers trainer, disclosed that he was gay shortly after his retirement in 2004, when he was 65. His sexual orientation had been an open secret among the 49ers and even to the media that covered the team. But McLean never felt comfortable going public until he no longer had a career to protect.

In November 2002, 49ers running back Garrison Hearst told a reporter he wouldn't want a homosexual teammate. The following day, Hearst apologized at a news conference, saying: "I didn't realize it would be so harmful."

NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci, who was the 49ers coach at the time, recalls the controversy that Hearst's comments created.

"We had a lot of patching up to do with that," said Mariucci Wednesday. "I know Garrison felt sad about what he said. We had a whole team meeting about it. I'm not sure if attitudes changed, but we had a heck of a discussion. Everybody got up and talked about what they felt. It was fascinating. I think we all were better for it."

Mariucci had been unaware of Culliver's comments until they were relayed to him by a reporter.

"Anybody needs to be a little bit better than that," he said. "And I'm sure Chris would like to rethink what he said."

The 49ers have been active in promoting tolerance when it comes to sexual orientation. Six months ago, the 49ers became the first NFL team to join the anti-bullying campaign known as "It Gets Better," targeted for teenagers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Wednesday, in reaction to the growing controversy, 49rs president and minority owner Gideon Yu tweeted: "I love our team and our players. I absolutely abhor discrimination. These don't have to be mutually exclusive feelings."

Patrick Burke said that with 90 players suiting up for the Super Bowl between the 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, it's statistically likely that somebody on the field Sunday will be gay.

"Do you think Chris would cut somebody on that 49ers team who helped them get to the Super Bowl, on the verge of the biggest game he will ever play?" he asked. "Not a chance in the world."